Ending mass incarceration

As the U.S. continues to imprison more people than any country in the world, momentum is growing for change. Now is the time to push for a real overhaul of the criminal justice system. Transformative and restorative justice approaches are less expensive, more effective, and more humane than mass incarceration—and justice is best served by helping people heal and preventing further harm.

AFSC has been central to healing justice struggles for decades. We offer these resources to help people learn more about the problem of mass incarceration and join our work to end it.

Justice is best served by helping people heal and preventing further harm, says longtime California prisoner rights activist Laura Magnani. She argues that with growing momentum for change, now is the time to overhaul the U.S. prison system.

Written in 2006 by AFSC's Laura Magnani and Harmon Wray, Beyond Prisons is a strong indictment of the current prison system. purchased from Quaker Books, and a study guide is available for download here.

Michelle Alexander points out that mass incarceration and the war on drugs is built on the foundation of demonizing people of color, particularly brown and black men and boys. A very strong thread in her message was that in order to end the system of mass incarceration in a way that keeps it from being reconstructed, all of us must be able “to see and value the humanity in one another.”

Suggestions on what to read and watch to learn more about healing justice issues.

Who we are

AFSC is a Quaker organization devoted to service, development, and peace programs throughout the world. Our work is based on the belief in the worth of every person, and faith in the power of love to overcome violence and injustice. Learn more

Where we work

AFSC has offices around the world. To see a complete list see the Where We Work page.